Parks and Rec: Stop feeding ducks in City Parks

SPOKANE, Wash. - Spokane residents have long enjoyed feeding ducks in Spokane parks, but officials say this can be harmful to ducks and humans.

Signs have been posted by the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department in Manito, Cannon Hill and Riverfront Park encouraging the public to stop feeding ducks and other waterfowl.

"We are finding that we have way too many ducks, attracted by those who feed them, in an ecological environment that cannot support them in a healthy manner," said Steve Nittolo, Horticulture Supervisor for Parks and Recreation.

According to Spokane Parks and Recreation, feeding ducks actually does more harm that good:

Contrary to popular opinion, bread is not nutritious for waterfowl

Poor nutrition results in malnourishment

Too many ducks in an area can spread disease

Ducks become tame and unable to escape predators

Duck droppings create water pollution in ponds

Birds can potentially spread disease to humans

Research by the U. S. Fish & Wildlife Service Office of Migratory Bird Management shows an overpopulation of ducks and other birds increases their susceptibility to life threatening diseases like avian cholera, duck plague and avian botulism. An infected duck may then spread the disease to many other birds by infecting the water supply.

City officials say the seemingly kind act of feeding waterfowl results in a cycle where birds are subjected to diseases that can spread as easily as humans spread the common cold.

BREWSTER, Wash. - Deputies and officers in Okanogan County are investigating after a shooting Sunday morning. Okanogan County Sheriff's deputies and officers from the Brewster police Department responded to a call at 502 North Star Road in Brewster for a report of a 19-year-old man with a gun.

BREWSTER, Wash. - Deputies and officers in Okanogan County are investigating after a shooting Sunday morning. Okanogan County Sheriff's deputies and officers from the Brewster police Department responded to a call at 502 North Star Road in Brewster for a report of a 19-year-old man with a gun.

The Spokane Fire Department is still looking into the cause of a fire Monday.

Authorities in Mississippi say a 9-year-old boy has shot his 13-year-old sister in the head and wounded her after an argument over a video game controller. Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell told local news outlets that the girl wouldn't give up the video game controller when her brother wanted it on Saturday. He says the boy shot the girl in the back of the head and that the bullet entered her brain.

Authorities in Mississippi say a 9-year-old boy has shot his 13-year-old sister in the head and wounded her after an argument over a video game controller. Monroe County Sheriff Cecil Cantrell told local news outlets that the girl wouldn't give up the video game controller when her brother wanted it on Saturday. He says the boy shot the girl in the back of the head and that the bullet entered her brain.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The mother of a Pennsylvania teenager says she went from not eating or sleeping to crying tears of relief when her missing daughter was located in a popular Mexican resort city. Miu Luu tells The (Allentown) Morning Call she's happy 16-year-old Amy Yu has been found. Federal agents and Mexican authorities found Amy and 45-year-old Kevin Esterly Saturday in Playa del Carmen.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The mother of a Pennsylvania teenager says she went from not eating or sleeping to crying tears of relief when her missing daughter was located in a popular Mexican resort city. Miu Luu tells The (Allentown) Morning Call she's happy 16-year-old Amy Yu has been found. Federal agents and Mexican authorities found Amy and 45-year-old Kevin Esterly Saturday in Playa del Carmen.

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - Two former Pierce County sheriff's deputies are suing the county, saying the agency tried to cover up how a man who killed his wife and himself obtained the gun he used in the killings.

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) - Two former Pierce County sheriff's deputies are suing the county, saying the agency tried to cover up how a man who killed his wife and himself obtained the gun he used in the killings.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) - Authorities have released the names of the woman and the ex-husband who shot her to death at a busy Southern California mall. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office identified the victim in Saturday's shooting as 29-year-old Parisa Siddiqi and the suspect as 33-year-old Kevin Crane.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) - Authorities have released the names of the woman and the ex-husband who shot her to death at a busy Southern California mall. The Ventura County Sheriff's Office identified the victim in Saturday's shooting as 29-year-old Parisa Siddiqi and the suspect as 33-year-old Kevin Crane.

AUSTIN (AP) - Austin's police chief says the two men injured in the most recent bombing in Austin were riding or pushing bicycles when the explosives detonated. Police Chief Brian Manley told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday that Sunday night's explosion was detonated by a tripwire and showed "a different level of skill."

AUSTIN (AP) - Austin's police chief says the two men injured in the most recent bombing in Austin were riding or pushing bicycles when the explosives detonated. Police Chief Brian Manley told ABC's "Good Morning America" on Monday that Sunday night's explosion was detonated by a tripwire and showed "a different level of skill."